MS33 Adaptation of Civil Engineering Structures to Climate Change

Prof. André Orcesi: andre.orcesi@ifsttar.fr

Session Chairs:
André Orcesi, Ifsttar, Champs-Sur-Marne, France, andre.orcesi@ifsttar.fr
Alan O' Connor, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, oconnoaj@tcd.ie

Abstract of the special session:
According to the IPCC climate change predictions, countries around the world will likely face dramatic climactic changes in the near future. More floods, drier summers and wetter winters are expected, along with the rise of sea levels and increase of wind speeds. The operational issues imposed on civil engineering structures by the change in temperature, precipitation, sea level etc. are already recognized. It is still a research issue to understand, qualify and quantify how natural hazards and the changing climate will likely impact infrastructure assets and services as it strongly depends on current and future climate variability, location, asset design life, function and condition.
The aim of this special session is to provide a forum in which scientists and engineers from academia and industry can present their state-of-the-art research results on adaptation to climate change related to the vulnerability of civil engineering structures. The following topics are covered in the session: (a) the main effects of climate change and their consequences on structural performance, in the context of evolving loads, load frequencies or loading scenarios, (b) the adaptation solutions to enhance resilience of infrastructures to extreme weather events in the short, medium and long-term, (c) the development of cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment methodologies, modelling, engineering design, technology, asset management, optimization under uncertainty where the cost of loss or remediation following the hazard impact is compared to the cost of applied adaptation.
Note: Special session organized on behalf of the IABSE TG6.1 « Effects of Climate Change on Infrastructures »